Key Verse[s]: Colossians 3:1-16
Teaching About God to the Next Generation
Illustration
- Read Colossians 3:1-16
- Cold War
- State of hostility between U.S. led & Soviet led countries
- Began following use of atomic bomb 1945
- Officially ended with collapse of USSR in 91
- More than conflict between weaponry and power
- It was a war for the mind, ideals, and way of living
- Before Ronald Reagan was president (California governor; inaugural speech) he addressed California saying the following,
“Perhaps you and I have lived too long with this miracle to properly be appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.”
2. Pass it On
- Victory already won:
- John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 15:57
- `”Take heart I have overcome the world”
- Joy made complete in knowing this Truth
- But with freedom and victory in Christ, the world still reaches for the silver lining of truth
- The slaves in Galveston, Texas, hadn’t heard the news that the Civil War, and their salvation is coming soon
- But with freedom and victory in Christ, the world still reaches for the silver lining of truth
- The war between death and life is won
- But being isolated from Jesus Christ (the way, the truth, and the life), anything they are being told is a lie!
- Q. What can we do?
- The answer is simple:
- Pass it on!
- Whenever you get the chance; Pass it on
- Let us verbally open our mouths and tell people
- “The war is over, Christ is victorious, and He is offering you a chance to join the winning side”
4. The Next Generation
- “Passing truth on” is becoming more and difficult
- A wise man once that with the “freedom of speech comes the freedom to listen”
- As Christians, the freedom to listen is our friend and enemy
- Why?
- Romans 10:17; “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
- Why?
- As Christians, the freedom to listen is our friend and enemy
- If someone doesn’t first stop and listen, they won’t hear
- At the same time, this is one of the beautiful things about the Gospel
- God did not create robots to love Him:
- In His perfect compassion, He allowed the choice to love Him
- Jesus Himself, submitted His will to the Father (John 7:17)
- This submission to Truth pleases God
- Today’s generation is listening to a lot of voices, some of which God allows
- In every dispensation & age, God gives the choice of life and allows the alternative.
- “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil”- Deuteronomy 30:15
- In every dispensation & age, God gives the choice of life and allows the alternative.
- Conduct is Important.
- Church father Francis of Assissi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
- Its witty, but contributes to the growing problem of Biblical illiteracy from generation to generation
- Salvation is not hingent on living a good life, it is hingent on the truth that Christ fulfilled the Law and made a way for sinners, by His death, burial and resurrection.
- People are more comfortable with “living like Christian” but until “we speak like a Christian and share the Good news,” our example is going to lead people straight to Hell.
- The sad thing is in this case, they are going to Hell and we are going to Heaven
- Silence is not worth the eternal consequences to the unbeliever
- The sad thing is in this case, they are going to Hell and we are going to Heaven
- Colossians 3:1-16
- We are to set our mind on those things which are above (3:1)
- Put on charity (Action words), set an example (3:14)
- Teaching and admonishing one another (3:16)
- With (3:16), “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
- Read Ephesians 2:8-10
- By Faith in the Word of Truth, Christ’s Gospel, we are saved and standing is in Him; unmovable.
- Christ has a plan for your life, to walk in the good works set before you
5. What does it look like?
What does this intentionality for the lost look like? How do I achieve it?
- Like most things in life, you must first evaluate yourself.
- What does your life look like? Identify opportunities.
- Beautiful story in Acts 8:26-39
- Philip was traveling under guidance of the Holy Spirit
- Finds eunuch who was a servant of the queen, relaxing and reading the Book of Isaiah
- Philip took this opportunity to ask if he understood what He was reading. The eunuch replied,
- “How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”
- The rest is history
- “How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”
- Beautiful story in Acts 8:26-39
6. No secret formula or 12 step process better than willingness to open your mouth and ask:
- “Do you understand what your reading?”
- “Do you understand that Jesus loves you?”
- “Do you understand what Jesus did for you?”
- “Do you understand that Heaven and Hell are real places?”
- “Do you understand that I care about you?”
- “Do you understand God cares about you?”
- “Do you understand that you can have peace in a world that makes absolutely no sense and is lying to you, everyday of your life”
- “Do you want something that makes sense? Just believe?”
- “Do you understand and believe that Christ died, was buried, and rose again on the third day for you?”
- “Oh, you do? Welcome to the Family of God!”
6. Conclusion
- Conduct with Truth is a powerful tool
- It’s manipulation free and important if our goal is to make,
- “And to make all men [women] see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:9)
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Great sermon!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!